After South Asia’s leading Sunni Islamic Seminary, Darul Uloom Deoband, closed its door for political parties, the politicians have now turned to country’s second best known Islamic seminary, Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, in lucknow with an aim to get an appeal issued in their favor.
Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama popularly known as ‘Nadwa’ has remained the second choice of the politicians after Deoband. During the elections the seminary has already witnessed a number of visits by the political leaders. When the lok Sabha Elections are shifting towards Eastern UP, the leaders are trying to connect with the Rector of Nadwa and seniormost cleric, Maulana Rabe Hasani Nadwi to garner Muslim support.
Apart from being a seminary, Nadwa also hosts an important Muslim organisation, All India Muslim Personal law Board (AIMPlB), which is followed by a majority of Indian Muslims. Since, Nadwi is also the president of AIMPlB, every political leader wants to make better relations with him. In the 20 days, several leaders visited Nadwa and had meetings with Maulana Rabe Hasani. They had discussion and requested the cleric to pray for their victory.
Although Chief Minister and SP State president, Akhilesh Yadav was the first to visit Nadwa and was followed by visits by Congress leader, Beni Prasad Verma and BSP general secretary, Satish Chandra Mishra. All of them had asked the Rector to pray (dua) for them so that election results are in their favor. According to the sources, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from lucknow, Jaaved Jaaferi will soon be visiting Maulana Rabe Hasani accompanied by Naib Imam Delhi Jama Masjid, Syed Yahya Bukhari.
Insiders in Nadwa said that though the leaders come but they seldom talk about politics. They ask us to prey for them and their party and we do that because our doors are open for all. “We do not align with any political party. Directives have been issued asking us not to even take part in the political meetings,” one of the functionaries said.
The political parties have started making a beeline for these seminaries after Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Ahmad Bukhari had issued a statement asking Muslims to support the Congress in this election. His younger brother Yahya Bukhari, however, went tangent to his brother and said the Congress is as guilty as the BJP in depriving Muslims of their rights. Then, there is a Maulana Tauqir Raza of Barelvi sect who has asked Muslims to vote for the BSP. Prominent Muslim cleric and Imam-e-Idgah, Khalid Rashid said that religious leaders and institutions should not interfere in politics. “Mix of religion with politics is dangerous potion,” he said. In eastern part of the State, Muslims play a decisive role in at least eight seats like Azamgarh, Bahraich, Gonda, Shrawasti, Varanasi, Domariyaganj, Gonda and Balrampur. There were several other seats which houses nearly 25-30 per cent of Muslim voters.
